Women’s Groups Demand Stronger Action Against Gender-Based Violence, Push for More Women in Governance

By Our Reporter

Women’s rights groups in Ebonyi State have called for stronger leadership, coordinated advocacy and greater political participation by women to confront the rising challenge of gender-based violence and advance gender equality.

The groups made the demand in Abakaliki during a one-day capacity-building training for leaders of women’s rights organisations, organised by the Women Information Network (WINET) in partnership with the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.

Speaking at the training, the Senior Legal and Programme Officer of the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), Dr Helen Kalu, stressed the importance of continuous training in equipping women’s rights advocates with the knowledge and skills required to influence policies and drive social change.

Kalu said regular seminars, workshops and sensitisation programmes would strengthen the capacity of women to engage effectively in advocacy and contribute meaningfully to building a more inclusive society.

She also challenged the negative perception of feminism, urging men, women and community leaders to stop viewing the movement as an attempt by women to take over power.

“Feminists should be seen as agents of change who are seeking fairness and an enabling environment where everyone can fulfil their potential,” Kalu said.

She maintained that achieving gender equality requires collective action and a willingness to challenge social structures and attitudes that continue to disadvantage women and girls.

The Executive Director of Daughters of Virtue and Empowerment Initiative (DOVENET), Dr Ugo Nnachi, described the training as an important step in the broader campaign for women’s liberation, gender parity, inclusive governance and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Earlier, the Executive Director of WINET, Mrs Miriam Menkiti, explained that the training was organised under the project, “Strengthening Women’s Rights Organisations in Nigeria for Gender-Based Violence Prevention,” with support from the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.

Menkiti said the project is being implemented across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states under the Strengthening Women’s Movements in Nigeria initiative.

According to her, the programme is designed to build “an inclusive, coordinated and impactful women’s movement” capable of advocating gender equality, social justice, and the economic and political empowerment of women.

She said the Abakaliki training focused on strengthening participants’ capacity in movement building, gender-based violence prevention, feminist leadership and intergenerational leadership.

Menkiti expressed appreciation to the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, and the Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Mr Solomon Azi, for their support.

She also presented the commissioners with copies of A Reader on Feminist Thinking and Practice in Nigeria, compiled and edited by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and Fabia Ogunmekan.

Declaring the training open on behalf of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, the Director of Administration, Mr Charles Nwali, commended WINET for extending the programme to Ebonyi State.

Nwali pledged the ministry’s continued support for WINET and urged the participants to take the knowledge gained from the training back to their respective organisations.

The Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Mr Solomon Azi, also commended WINET for its advocacy on women’s rights.

Azi, however, urged women to pursue gender equality while also upholding their responsibilities as mothers and custodians of family values.

The training featured sessions including “Understanding Women’s Movements in Nigeria,” “Intergenerational Leadership,” “Feminist Leadership for the 21st Century,” “Values of Feminism,” and “Core Leadership Skills.”

The sessions were facilitated by WINET officials, including Menkiti, Programme Manager Mrs Ijeoma Obinna-Onwuka, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning/Gender Desk Officer Mrs Chinelo Dim.

About 25 women’s rights organisations in Ebonyi State participated in the capacity-building programme.

The organisers said strengthening women’s organisations remains critical to building a stronger movement capable of responding effectively to gender-based violence while increasing women’s influence in governance, policy-making and community development.

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